Wheel disk and method of mounting same



June 20, 1939. G, A LYQN 2,163,004

I WHEEL DISK AND METHOD 0F MOUNTING SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 17, 1936 17E D 620e @E wfer yo/v.

G. A..| YoN 2,163,004 v WHEEL DISK AND METHOD OF MOUNTING SAME June 20, 939.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 17, 1936 Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, N. J.

Application June 17,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an ornamental member, and more particularly to an ornamental member adapted to be disposed over an outer side surface of an automobile or other vehicle wheel and to the method of mounting the same thereon.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel ornamental accessory for use with automobile or other vehicle wheels which may be so secured in position as not to require any modification or change in the Wheel.

It is important in the manufacture and assembly of ornamental devices for disposition on vehicle wheels, that these devices be economical to manufacture, simple to assemble, require no' changes of the usual vehicle wheel, and be rugged and reliable i'n use and substantially free from vibration. y

lIt is an object of this invention to provide a novel ornamental device which possesses the above highly desirable qualities.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel method and means for mounting ornamental members on vehicle wheels.

A further feature of this invention is a novel method of securing an ornamental member to a vehicle wheel by a pressing operation.

A still further feature of this invention is a novel method of securing an ornamental member to a vehicle wheel which includes collapsing an intermediate portion of the member and caus-V ing the collapsed portion to press rmly against an intermediate portion of the wheel, whereby the member is secured to the wheel.

The novel features which I believe to be charl acteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be under-v stood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 1

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional elevational view of a wheel, an ornamental member, and a press illustrating one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged View of the upper lefthand portion of Figure 1, and shows the press in its position prior to the pressing operation;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but shows the press in its position at the end of the pressing operation;

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional elevational View of a portion of a Wheel., an rnamental member,

1936, serial No. `85,632 (o1. ,2s- 159) and a press illustrating a modified form of my invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, I' have illustrated therein a wheel I onV which an. ornamental member 2 is about to be securedwith the 5,

aid of a press 3, in accordance with the teachings of my invention. Wheel vI is illustrated as being of the type commonly manufactured for use by various members of the automobile industry, although itis to be understood that my invention is not limited thereby. As shown, wheel I comprises a rim portion 4 and a body part 5.

Rim 4 is of the drop center type and includes a base flange 6, opposite sidewall portions I, opposite intermediate anges 8, and side edges 9. Body portion 5 includes a laterally extending ange I0 at its outer periphery, and a circular holding flange II adjacent the center of the wheel. Body part 5 is secured to rim portion 4 in any suitable manner, such as by rivets (not shown). As may be seen upon careful inspection of the drawings, laterally extending'ange IIJ of body part 5 extends beyond theedge of base flange 6 of rim portion 4, and in consequence thereof forms a shoulder I2 at the junction point of body part 5 and rim portion 4.

In the manufacture of vehicle Wheels, it is, as a general rule, impossible to give the outer side surface of the wheel a high polish or a pleasing configuration because of the necessity of using materials having the requisite stress-resisting characteristics and in following a constructional design which is in accordance with sound engineering principles. Various types of ornamental devices have` been provided which will enhance the general beauty and appearance ofthe outer side ysurface of thevwheel. One type of ornamental device which is commonly used, isA known to the art as an ornamental -member or disk.

Referring again to Figure 1 of the drawingsI have shown therein an ornamental member 2 which is about to be secured to a wheel I by causing an intermediate portion I3 to collapse into locking engagement with shoulder I2 of the wheel. 'I'he collapse of intermediate portion I3 is brought about by placing wheel I and member 2 in press 3 and applying an axial pressure thereto in a manner which will presently be explained.

Press 3 comprises a base member I4 and an upper or male die member I5. Base member I4 is provided with an upwardly extending portion I6 which is adapted to lie in intimate contact with the inner surface of rim 4. The top of portion I6 is so disposed as to rest against the inner edge of laterally extending flange I0 and thus provides a seat for the latter. Upper die member I5 of press 3 includes a central die part I I and an outer annular die part I8 which is slidably mounted in an annular recess I9 of the upper press member I5. Die part I8 is recessed as at 20 in order to cooperate with a plurality of studs 2| to limit the relative movement of die part I8 with respect to central die part I'I. It will of course be understood that `a ycircular flange (not shown) may be employed with equal success in the place of studs 2|. A plurality of springs 22, disposed as shown in Figure I, bias die part I8 downwardly with respect lto central die part I'I.

The relative position of the various elements prior to the pressing operation may be seen best in Figure 2.

The method of mounting ornamental member 2 on wheel I is as follows:

Wheel I is placed Vover the upwardly extending portion I6 of base member I4 of press 3 and firmly seated thereon. Ornamental vmember 2 is placed over the outer side surface of wheel I and the upper die member I5 of press 3 is lowered into the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings. It lwill be noted that outer die part I8 rmly engages the outer marginal edge portion of ornamental member 2 and holds the same against the outer side wall I of rim 4. Axial pressure in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2 is now applied to central die part I'I. 'I'he axial movement of central die Vpart I'I causes outer die part I8 to ride upwardly in recess I9 against the compressive action of springs 22. The dow-nward movement of die part' I'I causes the ornamental member to buckle or collapse at I3 since that is the only point at which the upper member of the press lies in spaced relation with respect to the outer surface of wheel I. The relative position of the various elements at the end of the pressing operation and particularly the position of intermediate portion I3 of ornamental member 2 may be seen best in Figure 3 of the drawings. It will be noted upon careful inspection of Figure 3 that intermediate portion I3 of ornamentalmember 2 is now tightly pressed against shoulder I2 of body part 5, and in consequence thereof is securely fastened to wheel I.

It will be noted from the above description that during the pressing operation, the wheel itself acts as one of the die members of the press. This is an important feature of my invention as it eliminates the need for a separate female die member which is usually required.

Although in the drawings, I have shown theV upper die as constituting the male member, it

should be understood that the invention is not.

limited thereby since the wheel may be used with equal success as the male die member and the upper die used as thefemale member.

In Figure 4 of the drawings I'have illustrated a slightly modified form of my invention. On inspection of the gure it will be noted that the wheel is similar to that described in connection with Figures 1 to 3 exceptthat the outwardly extending shoulder I2 is provided with an annular radially extending bead 23 near its outer edge. Intermediate portion I3 of ornamental member 2 is adapted in this case to be collapsed against shoulder I2 at a point immediately beneath bead 23. Figure 4 illustrates the various elements in their relative positions at the end of the pressing operation. It will readily be understood that bead 23 provides a further means for assuring that ornamental member 2 is rmly secured to wheel I.

While I have shown particular embodiments of my invention, it will of course be understood that I do not wish to be limited thereto since `many other modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claims to cover all such modifications which fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of mounting an ornamental member on a vehicle wheel which includes gripping and holding an annular portion of the member against a face of the wheel in a iixed position with respect thereto and bending a second annular portion of said member radially inwardly into tight securing engagement with said wheel by the application of axial pressure only.

2. The method of mounting a partially preformed sheet metal member on a vehicle wheel which includes confining an outer annular portion of said member against said wheel with a hold-down ring and applying axial pressure to another portion of said member to cause a radial shrinkingof an intermediate annular portion of said member into tight mounting engagement with said wheel.

3. The method of mounting an ornamental member on a vehicle wheel, said member including an .outer ring portion and an inner portion integral therewith and extending therefrom, the marginalfparts of said portions adjacent the annular line of junction thereof defining a reentrant groove, which includes gripping and holding said. outer ring portion against a face of said wheel and applying axialV pressure to said inner Vportion to cause a radial collapsing of the metal of said inner portion adjacent said reentrantgroove into tight engagement with said wheel.

4. The method of mounting an ornamental memberon a vehicle wheel, said member including an outer ring portion and an inner portion integral therewith and extending therefrom, the marginal parts of said portions adjacent the annular line of junction thereof dening a reentrant groove, which includes gripping and holding said outer ring portion against a face of said wheel and applying axial pressure to said inner portion to cause a radial collapsing of the metal of said inner portion adjacent said reentrant groove into tight engagement with said wheel, said wheel acting as a die during the collapsing step for determining the ilnal shape of said member.

' GEORGE vALBERT LYON. 

